AHC: Keep Imperialism / Empires Alive to Present

Does anyone here think Imperialism could survive to the modern day assuming POD's after 1900? And if Imperialism does survive is there any way it could remain 'thriving' (as in the Imperialist nation wants it around and doesn't see it as an albatross or a relic of a bygone era slowly/quickly dying)? What would be the maximum extent modern day empires might retain and what is definitely lost or independent?

This assumes general trends i.e. the USA doesn't suddenly go totally OOC and outright conquer the rest of the Americas without something really big happening to them and etc.
 
Does anyone here think Imperialism could survive to the modern day assuming POD's after 1900? And if Imperialism does survive is there any way it could remain 'thriving' (as in the Imperialist nation wants it around and doesn't see it as an albatross or a relic of a bygone era slowly/quickly dying)? What would be the maximum extent modern day empires might retain and what is definitely lost or independent?

This assumes general trends i.e. the USA doesn't suddenly go totally OOC and outright conquer the rest of the Americas without something really big happening to them and etc.

What kind of imperialism? It all depends on that.

If we're talking about extremely enlightened imperialism, which basically annexes colonies into the framework of a Western liberal democracy, giving their inhabitants citizenship and a largely autonomous administration, then yes, it probably could have. At the same time, you might struggle to call this colonialism.

As well, if we're talking about totalitarian colonialism, similar to Nazism, where the native population is exterminated and replaced with colonists, then yes, it could work. Traditional colonialism, however, was in its twilight by the 20th century, and could not have been revived without significant butterflies from further in the past.
 
What kind of imperialism? It all depends on that.

If we're talking about extremely enlightened imperialism, which basically annexes colonies into the framework of a Western liberal democracy, giving their inhabitants citizenship and a largely autonomous administration, then yes, it probably could have. At the same time, you might struggle to call this colonialism.

As well, if we're talking about totalitarian colonialism, similar to Nazism, where the native population is exterminated and replaced with colonists, then yes, it could work. Traditional colonialism, however, was in its twilight by the 20th century, and could not have been revived without significant butterflies from further in the past.

Or just the good old fashioned "keep the colonial populations in line as long as they behave and extract them ruthlessly of resources".
 
Or just the good old fashioned "keep the colonial populations in line as long as they behave and extract them ruthlessly of resources".


Yeah we tried that (honestly we gave it a real good go and all) but it turns out that said colonial populations don't like it much*.
"Extremely enlightened imperialism" could have worked though this depends on when its tired (if its post 1945 there is no way in hell that’s going to work bar a few small place's e.g. a few small Islands). Though I'm ashamed to admit it us Europeans properly wouldn't do this until it was too late mostly due to Racism and fear of industrial completion from forma colonies (I mean look how hard it was for the Liberals to get home rule for Ireland and they where white English speakers)


* I know big shock :rolleyes:
 
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